Evaluation of auditory detection capacity in noisy work environments, and occupational reinsertion of workers suffering from hearing deficits Abstract Occupational hearing loss is estimated to affect 40% of industrial workers, and hearing loss due to other causes affects a further 5-10%. Hearing loss is a problem throughout the primary and secondary sectors, and affects workers in selected tertiary sectors, most notably the transportation sector. Currently, workstation modification to accommodate the effects of hearing deficits is based on statistical models, rather than the actual hearing capacity of the individuals in question. This project was undertaken to develop a valid and reliable measurement technique for frequency selectivity, based on an established model of the frequency characteristics of human auditory filters. Research proceeded in three phases: establishment of the reliability of a test procedure compatible with clinical evaluation practices; determination of the minimum number of measurements necessary for the valid assessment of frequency selectivity (hearing capacity can be measured in under 25 minutes); and evaluation of the accuracy of predictions of individual hearing thresholds among normal subjects in noisy environments. This last phase itself consisted of two stages, namely the establishment of normal values in 100 normal subjects using a clinical examination developed for this purpose, and the development of a clinical protocol and modification of the Detectsound program to allow data collection for the purposes of predicting hearing detection limits in noisy environments.The results demonstrated the feasibility of predicting hearing thresholds using the clinical examination developed. Produced Under this Project Scientific Reports Evaluation of auditory detection capacities in a noisy environment and the integration of people with hearing problems Research Summary: PR-151 Scientific Publications Choix d'une procédure de mesure de la capacité de détection d'un signal sonore dans le bruit en vue de la mise au point éventuelle d'un examen cliniqueTran Quoc H., Hétu R., Laroche C.Source : Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, vol. 15, no 2, 1991, p. 21-33Adaptation d'une procédure de mesure des filtres auditifs aux contraintes de l'examen cliniqueHétu R., Tran Quoc H.Source : Cahiers de l'audition, vol. 5, no 5, 1992, p. 10-16Caractérisation des filtres auditifs centrés à 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 et 4000 Hz au moyen d'une procédure de mesure adaptée aux contraintes d'examen cliniqueHétu R., Tran Quoc H.Source : Journal de physique IV, vol. 1, 1992, p. 269-272Validation of masked treshold predictions among people with sensorineural hearing lossHétu R., Tran Quoc H.Source : Canadian Acoustic/Acoustique canadienne, vol. 22, no 3, 1994, p. 83-84The likelihood of detecting a significant hearing threshold shift among noise-exposed workers subjected to annual audiometric testingHétu R., Tran Quoc H., Duguay P.Source : The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, vol. 34, no 4, 1990 Additional Information Type: Project Number: 0090-1190 Status: Completed Research Field: Mechanical and Physical Risk Prevention Team: Raymond Hétu (Université de Montréal)